Cross, Volley, Cross, Volley

The first quarter of school ended on Friday, so the kids had a bunch of tests this week.  All the teachers were trying to get everything in before grades were due.  Caroline had to give a presentation about the country she invented, Karcoa.  Her teacher scheduled her for the first day of presentations, which Caroline did not like.  She would have preferred to watch a few so she could tweak her own.  She was told to have a visual aid besides her map and flag.  It was the night before, so choices were limited.  She printed out pictures of the natural resources on her island, but pictures Caroline-style.  A sheep with it's tongue stuck out.  Chicken, but already plump and juicy on a plate.  Potatoes in the form of waffle fries.  She did well and she's glad it's over.

Henry had a race at the start of the week.  It was Palmetto, which he's already raced once this season.  The coach at this high school had walked the course the morning of the race.  All was clear.  But when they checked the trail that afternoon, a tree had fallen, blocking the course.  They delayed the JV race, hoping to clear it.  After some time, they announced there was still a tree on the course and they'd have to go over it.  They followed up those instructions by saying there was also a guy with a chainsaw hoping to clear the tree while they raced.  So, maybe, the warning should have been more about the guy with the chainsaw.  Henry ran the last race of the evening and the tree was still there.  I never did hear a chainsaw.  Maybe they thought better of it.  Henry ran with Chase the whole way again.   This race finishes on the track, and when Henry and Chase rounded the final corner, they booked it.  It was an exciting finish.  Henry and Chase not only ran in tandem, but they lost their dinners in tandem as well.  Henry said at least he can check that off his cross country bucket list.    

While I was with Henry at his race, Todd took Josiah and Caroline to the volleyball game.  It was pink-out night.  

All three went later in the week for Pirate and Princess night.  That evening, Josiah took his phone and 'interviewed' people.  He asked them their favorite thing about the school.  But before each 'interview' he asked them to do a mic check by saying, 'Josiah.'  He then went home and compiled all the mic checks so that everyone's favorite thing about school was "Josiah, Josiah, Josiah Cockrell, Josiah..."  He does intend to make a video with all the actual things they liked about the school, too.  

We celebrated the end of the semester with a Costco cake.  Months ago, Todd added Josiah to our grocery list app.  He was always asking to put stuff on the list, so this seemed like an easier way to handle it.  Josiah was told to put real foods that we actually needed on the list.  He complies 80% of the time.  We went to Costco and besides giant stuffed teddy bear, he added:

I appreciated his details.  

We had a busy end of the week.  Josiah went to a birthday party.  They did an airsoft battle and Josiah went layered up.  He came back with a few hits on his body, but he said he was very glad his face was small enough that the mask and goggles covered him well.  The birthday boy, who has a fuller face, had a line of hits all around the outside of his face.  

Henry had his Cavalier Relay Saturday morning.  This is the race with just our school where they pair up the fastest with the slowest runner, 2nd fastest with 2nd slowest, and on down the line.  Henry was right in the middle of the pack in terms of times.  They take their fastest 5k times and then give them all handicaps.  In a perfect world, they would all end the race at the same time.  Henry was paired up with Thomas.  It was a 1k course.  Henry ran the first lap, then Thomas, Henry, Thomas, until they had both gone for a full 5k.  They finished in third place, which beat last year's standing by a lot.  Because it was a relay, this is the only race where Chase is not in every picture with Henry.

Caroline spent her Saturday at SWU.  Todd took her to watch the women's volleyball game so she could see how it was played on the collegiate level.  She was impressed by their speed and the number of spikes they hit.  And apparently, they're all very tall.  Before the game, they grabbed some very good looking subs.  

Josiah helped the family out by changing the air filter under the house.  He did not want to do this so I told him to ask his father how much he'd pay him and I'd double it.  Todd said he'd give him a hug.  Josiah negotiated up.  Josiah has the gift of persistence.  But it also meant Todd didn't have to go under the house, so we appreciated the help.  

Henry took Benson out and they were gone for a while.  We looked outside and saw them contemplating life.  

Next week is a short one.  Fall Break starts on Friday, so we're looking forward to getting some good sleep.